63 SERMONCXIII, The Nature and Necefity ofholy Refolution. Jo B XXXIV. 31, 32. Surely it is meet to be Paidunto God, 1have born chaßifement, I will The Aft Sermon not offend any more : That which I fee not, teach thou me ; if Ihave thin rest. an done Iniquity, Iwill do no more. 'I HESE words are the words of Eau, one of Job's Friends, and the only onewho isnot reproved for his Difcourfe with fob, and who was proba- bly the Author of this antient and molt eloquent Hifloryof the fufferings and pati- ence of Job, andof the end which the Lord made withhim; and they contain in them a Defcriptionof the temper and behaviour of a true Penitent. Surely it is meet, &c. In which words we have the Two effential parts of a true Repentance. Firfi, An humble Acknowledgment and Confeffion of our Sins to God, Surely it ismeet to bePaid unto God, 1 have born chaftifemeet. Secondly, A firm Purpofe and Refolution of amendment and forfakingof Sin for the future, I will not offend any more; ifIhave done iniquity, Iwill do no more. Firfl, An humble Acknowledgment and Confeffion ofour Sins to God ; Sure- ly it is meet to be Paid untoGod, I have born chafiifement, that is, have finned and been juflly punifh'd for it, and am now convincedof the Evil of Sin, and refol- ved to leave it Ihave born chafiifement, I will offend no more. Of this Firfl part of Repentance, viz. an humble Confeffion of our Sins to God, with great Shame and Sorrow for them, and a thorowConvi &ion of the Evil and Danger of a finful Courfe, I have already treated at large. In thefe Repentance mull begin, but it mutt not end in them : for a penitent Confeffion of our Sins to God, and aConviftion of theevil of them, lignifies nothing, un- lefs it brings us to a Refolution of amendment, that is, of leaving our Sins, and betaking our felves to a better Courfe. And this I intend, by God's a(fittance, to fpeak to now, as being the Second Part of a true Repentance here defcribed in the Text, viz. A firmPur- pofe and Refolutionof amendment and forfaking of Sin for the future ; and to exprefs it the more ftrongly and emphatically, and to thew the firmnefs of the Re- folution, it is repeated again, Imdl not offend any more ; and then in the next verle, IfIhave done iniquity, Iwill do no more. And this is fo neceffary a part of Repentance, that herein the very effence and formal Nature of Repentance does confitt, viz: in the firm and fincere Purpofe and Refolution of a better Courfe. In the handling of this Argument, I (hall do thefe Six things. I. I thall thew what Refolution is in general. H. What is the fpecial Objeft of this kind of Refolution. III. What is implyed in a fincere Refolutionof leaving our Sins and returning to God. IV. I (hall thew that in this Refolution of amendment, the very Effence and formal Nature of Repentance does confift. V. I (hall offer fome Confiderations to convince men, bothof the neceffaty and Stnefs of this Refolution, , and ofkeeping fledfaftly to it. Surely it is meet to be food unto God, Iwill not offend any more. VI. I (hall add fame brief direûions concerning the managing and maintaining -Lf this holy and neceffary Refolution. I. What
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